2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was a unique creation, starting with a Wrangler base, stretching and fortifying the frame for serious towing and hauling, and adding a short 5-foot cargo bed. This design aimed to preserve the departure angle while providing the utility midsize pickup buyers needed. Initially, its tall, long, and narrow appearance, especially with the Wrangler-based bodywork, caused some cognitive dissonance. However, driving the Gladiator, especially in off-road conditions, quickly endeared it to many, inviting the outside in and offering a unique driving experience.

In 2021, Jeep introduced new editions like the Willys special edition with a blacked-out grille and 32-inch all-terrain tires, the 80th Anniversary Edition with special badges and materials, and the High Altitude luxury model with premium Nappa leather. Pricing started at $33,545 for the base Sport model, but our test truck, equipped with Overland trim and a new turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, with optional heated front seats, leather upholstery, and top-shelf infotainment, was as nice as it gets for a Gladiator, though it remained a vehicle designed for rugged use.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, embodied the classic truck look with boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a shield-like grille. It contrasted with the more streamlined Ford Ranger and GM midsize twins, avoiding the exaggerated features of larger trucks. Certain models like the Trail Edition and Nightshade Edition had unique styling features, while the TRD Pro boasted a model-specific grille, blacked-out hood, and exclusive Lunar Rock color.

The Tacoma stuck with body-on-frame construction, benefiting towing and off-road capability. It offered Access Cab and Double Cab configurations, with the latter providing four full-size doors. The interior had rugged styling with chunky plastic elements, appropriate for a base model but harder to justify at the TRD Pro’s $45,000 price. Despite the optional leather upholstery, the focus remained on off-roading rather than luxury.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator offered a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine option, costing an additional $4,000. This engine produced 260 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm, providing substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy than the standard 3.6-liter gasoline V6. During testing, the diesel engine averaged 22.6 mpg, slightly below the EPA’s estimated 24 mpg. The standard V6 returned 20.3 mpg in a previous test.

A Gladiator Sport with the standard engine could tow up to 7,650 pounds and haul up to 1,700 pounds of payload. The turbo-diesel powertrain, while not matching these figures due to engine-cooling restrictions, could still tow 6,000-6,500 pounds and had a similar payload capacity to other Gladiator configurations. Off-road, the diesel engine’s torque shone, making challenging trails easier to tackle. On paved roads, the Gladiator exhibited slow and sloppy steering, a stiff ride, and plenty of wind noise, but these quirks added to its charm.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offered two powertrain options: a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine, available with both automatic and manual transmissions, featured Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system for better fuel economy. The Tacoma’s part-time 4WD drivetrain included a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential, with a fully locking rear diff available.

The TRD models built on this foundation with features like upgraded suspension, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. The TRD Pro added Fox shocks, a front lift, and wider wheels, making it competitive with other off-road-focused trucks. On-road, the Tacoma felt like a traditional truck, with poor ride quality and slow acceleration despite the V6 engine. The six-speed automatic’s hesitance to shift and the TRD Pro’s exhaust note were also drawbacks.

The Tacoma’s maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, and its maximum payload capacity was 1,685 pounds, though these figures varied depending on the configuration. While respectable, these numbers didn’t surpass the Jeep Gladiator or class-leading Ford Ranger.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator’s interior was not designed for comfort. The seats offered proper support, but the small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom required acclimation. Side steps or rails, mounted high to preserve breakover angle, made entry and exit challenging. In-cabin storage included netting on the door panels, a small center console bin, cupholders, a dash-top tray, and an undersized glove compartment. The 5-foot steel cargo box held 35.5 cubic feet of cargo and featured multiple tie-down hooks, an adjustable tailgate, and optional accessories like a spray-in bedliner and Trail Rail cargo organizer.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab, despite its four-door configuration, lacked interior space compared to other midsize pickups. Rear headroom and legroom were the worst in the segment, and front headroom and legroom were also below average. The lack of headroom and the short windshield created a bunker-like feel, and the tall hood impaired forward visibility. Rear seats folded up to reveal storage cubbies, but other in-cab storage was limited. The Tacoma’s bed featured a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an optional 120-volt outlet, but lacked clever storage solutions like the Honda Ridgeline’s in-bed bins.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while inherently old school, offered modern technology. The standard Uconnect 3 system with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth, voice text reply for Android, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The optional Uconnect 4 system with a 7-inch touchscreen, standard on Sport S trim, added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-shelf Uconnect 4C system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and navigation, included SiriusXM Guardian connected services, an Alpine premium sound system, and an Amazon Alexa skill. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available with Overland trim, was useful for off-road navigation.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma’s base SR trim level had a 7-inch touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A six-speaker JBL audio system was available on higher trims. The infotainment system was functional but not standout, with responsive touchscreens and helpful shortcut buttons. The TRD Pro tester had the optional Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system, useful for spotting obstacles off-road and maneuvering in parking spaces.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator’s standard safety features included a reversing camera. Depending on the trim level, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams were available. The test truck had all these features, with blind-spot monitoring being particularly useful. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab received top “Good” scores in most IIHS crash tests, except for an “Acceptable” score in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Headlights received mixed ratings, but the Tacoma earned a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave both Access Cab and Double Cab configurations a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.